Etymology Preposition and adverb from Middle English aboute, abouten, from Old English abūtan, onbūtan, from on (“in, on”) + būtan (“outside of”), itself from be (“by”) + ūtan (“outside”). Cognate with Old Frisian abûta (“outside; except”). Adjective from Middle English about (adverb).
In a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of; around.
The snake was coiled about his ankle.
So look about you; know you any here?c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
4 more examples
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:1769, King James Bible, Oxford Standard text, Proverbs, iii, 3
Pagondas […] sent two companies of horse secretly about the hill; whereby that wing of the Athenians which was victorious, apprehending upon their sudden appearing that they had been a fresh army, was put into affright:[…]1843, Thomas Hobbes, The English Works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury: The history of the Grecian war written by Thucydides; tr. by T. Hobbes, page 480:
[…] for they could not get about the cape, because the wind on this coast is commonly between the NW. and SW., which makes it very difficult getting to the westward; but they left four canoes with forty-six men at the cape,[…]1874, David Laing Purves, The English Circumnavigators: The Most Remarkable Voyages Round the World by English Sailors, London : W.P. Nimmo, page 214:
The Roman soldier found Me lying dead, my crown about my brows, […]1877, Alfred Tennyson, The Works of Alfred Tennyson, Poet Laureate ..., page 241:
2
Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.
Rubbish was strewn about the place.
The children were running about the room.
4 more examples
He was well known about town.
[I]n likeneſs of a Dove / The Spirit deſcended, while the Fathers voice / From Heav'n pronounc'd him his beloved Son. / That heard the Adverſary, who roving ſtill / About the world, at that aſſembly fam'd / Would not be laſt, […]1671, John Milton, “The First Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 3, lines 30–35:
He had been known, during several years, as a small poet; and some of the most savage lampoons which were handed about the coffeehouses were imputed to him.1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC:
where lies thy pain? And where my liege's? all about the breast.1598, William Shakespeare, Love's Labour's Lost:
› Indicates that something will happen very…
3
With 'to' and verb infinitive See about to.
4
Dialectal, Obsolete, With present participle On the point or verge of.
[It] was held, that the latter requirement was fulfilled by an affidavit declaring that "the defendant was about leaving the State permanently."1866, Charles Daniel Drake, A treatise on the law of suits by attachment in the United States, page 80:
5
Concerning; with regard to; on account of; on the subject of.
He talked a lot about his childhood.
We must do something about this problem.
4 more examples
He is very mad about all the pranks.
Doe you meane to stoppe any of Williams wages, about the Sacke he lost the other day?c. 1597-1602, William Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor
I already have made way / To some Philistian lords, with whom to treat / About thy ransom.1671, John Milton, Samson Agonistes:
There have been violent quarrels about whether the whole is greater than a part.1856, Voltaire, Philosophical dictionary:
6
Concerned or occupied with; engaged in; intent on.
just going about their business
Have you much hay about?
4 more examples
“What’s Mary doin'?” “Oh! oo’s about th’ butter.”
... these Machines ... must be the Work of one, who knew what he was about. And what is it, to work, and know what one is about? Tis to have an Idea of what one is doing; to possess A FORM INTERNAL, correspondent to the EXTERNAL,[…]1765, James HARRIS (Author of “Hermes.”.), Hermes, Or a Philosophical Inquiry Concerning Universal Grammar ... Second Edition, Etc, page 376:
And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?1769, King James Bible, Oxford Standard text, Luke, ii, 49
RON: And I’ll have the number 8. WAITER: That’s a party platter, it serves 12 people. RON: I know what I’m about, son.2013 March 14, Parks and Recreation, season 5, episode 16, Bailout
7
Within or in the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to; near, as to place.
I can’t find my reading glasses, but they must be somewhere about the house.
John’s in the garden, probably somewhere about the woodshed.
4 more examples
Carausius was born of mean parentage about Cleves in Germany, he rose in the Army by his bravery, and was appointed [...] Governor of Bononia or Bolougne in France, and Admiral […]1777, Edward Ledwich, Antiquitates Sarisburienses: Or, The History and Antiquities of Old and New Sarum, page 7:
The Saffron Crocus (C. sativus) grows in meadows about Essex, where it is cultivated for its fragrant stigmas, which constitute saffron.1851, J. H. Clark, The Songs of the Seasons, and Wild Flowers of the Months: Or, the British Wild Flowers Familiarly Described Under the Months in which They Bloom and the Localities in which They Grow, page 53:
... small dipterous insects, which are abundant about the heaps of sea-weed.1864, Zoologist: A Monthly Journal of Natural History, page 9108:
[…] if there be any number of equiangular triangles, the sides about the equal angles are proportionals.1868, William Rossiter, The Elements of Plane and Spherical Trigonometry, page 14:
8
On one’s person; nearby the person.
I had no weapon about me but a stick.
The policy covers all belongings and other personal things that somebody can carry about them.
1 more example
At this assurance the traveller rose, and approached Alice softly. He drew away her hands from her face, when she said gently, "Have you much money about you?" / "Oh the mercenary baggage!" said the traveller to himself; and then replied aloud, "Why, pretty one?—Do you sell your kisses so high, then?"1837, [Edward Bulwer-Lytton], Ernest Maltravers […] , volume I, London: Saunders and Otley, […], →OCLC, book I, page 16:
9
Figuratively On or near (one's person); attached as an attribute to; in the makeup of, or at the command of.
He has his wits about him.
There was an air of confidence about the woman.
3 more examples
Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke.[…]A silver snaffle on a heavy leather watch guard which connected the pockets of his corduroy waistcoat, together with a huge gold stirrup in his Ascot tie, sufficiently proclaimed his tastes. […] But withal there was a perceptible acumen about the man which was puzzling in the extreme.1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter II, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
And there is a mature wisdom about him which, without being new, is newly refreshed. I did not know how profoundly my emotional loyalties were engaged to him until these days. Our plans are simple. We stay here until Thursday; then Amherst[…]1953, Oliver Wendell Holmes (Jr.), Holmes-Laski Letters: 1926-1935:
... there was a mature air about him that also suggested vacationing professional. He wore a button-down, collared shirt open a few more interesting buttons than most, revealing a small spatter of blondish-reddish hair on a broad chest[…]2017 November 11, Linn Edwards, Food Frenzy, JMS Books LLC, →ISBN:
Etymology Preposition and adverb from Middle English aboute, abouten, from Old English abūtan, onbūtan, from on (“in, on”) + būtan (“outside of”), itself from be (“by”) + ūtan (“outside”). Cognate with Old Frisian abûta (“outside; except”). Adjective from Middle English about (adverb).
On all sides, or in every or any direction from a point; around.
I looked about at the scenery that surrounded me.
Why, then, I see, ’tis time to look about, / When every boy Alphonsus dares control.1599, Robert Greene, The Comical History of Alphonsus King of Aragon, III-ii:
3 more examples
all the blessings / Of a glad father compass thee about1610-11, William Shakespeare, The Tempest
Dunkerk is […] well-built and populous, strongly fortified all about where it is capable: only toward the Downs or sandy Hills on the Southwest side of the Town, though there had been much Cost bestowed in raising Forts, yet were they almost filled up and spoiled with Sand driven in by the force of stormy Winds, against which it will be very hard to secure any Fort that shall be there erected.1673, John Ray, Observations Topographical, Moral, & Physiological: Made in a Journey Through Part of the Low-countries, Germany, Italy, and France: with a Catalogue of Plants Not Native of England, Found Spontaneously Growing in Those Parts, and Their Virtues:
And from the middle Darkness flashing out, By fits he deals his fiery Bolts about. Earth feels the Motions of her angry God, Her Entrails tremble, and her Mountains nod;[…]1716, Virgil, translated by Dryden, The Works of Virgil ... Translated Into English Verse; by Mr. Dryden, page 110:
2
Here and there; around; in one place and another; up and down.
Bits of old machinery were lying about.
... the tocsins of immemorial strife were sounding all about, the fierce old bell pealing out its periodical summons from the airy heights of the Palazzo Vecchio, and armed men, fierce and furious, swarming about the streets.1876, Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant, The Makers of Florence: Dante, Giotto, Savonarola; and Their City ... With Portrait of Savonarola ... and Illustrations from Drawings by Professor Delamotte:
1 more example
Feathers were strewn about—white feathers! With them were several splotches of dried blood splattered across the dirt. Matthew's heart sank. He knew whose feathers those were! Something terrible had happened here.2013 December 9, Michael Phillips, The Sword, the Garden, and the King, Rosetta Books, →ISBN:
3
From one place or position to another in succession; indicating repeated movement or activity.
walking about; rushing about; jumping about; thrashing about
1769, King James Bible, Oxford Standard text, 1 Timothy, v,13, And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
3 more examples
He and Gerald usually challenged the rollers in a sponson canoe when Gerald was there for the weekend; or, when Lansing came down, the two took long swims seaward or cruised about in Gerald's dory, clad in their swimming-suits; and Selwyn's youth became renewed in a manner almost ridiculous,[…].1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter IX, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
He bustled about and about, speaking to every one, but declined listening for a single moment to any.1824, James Hogg, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner, page 271:
She was [...] moving furniture about, and marching into the apartment at the front even before the tenants had left.2008 January 29, Emile Zola, The Beast Within, Penguin, →ISBN:
4
Indicating unproductive or unstructured activity.
messing about; fooling about; loafing about
5
Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence in quality, manner, degree, quantity, or time; almost.
It’s about as cold as it was last winter.
He owes me about three hundred dollars.
4 more examples
Dinner’s about ready.
I was so scared, I about fainted.
I’ll see you at about 4 o'clock; I'll see you about a year from now.
The next conference will be held about a year from now in a venue about six miles from here.
6
Near; in the vicinity.
I looked round at the people standing about, and observed them curiously in their peculiar relation to it all.1879, Scribner's Monthly, an Illustrated Magazine for the People, page 212:
7
To a reversed order, direction, or condition; half round; in (or to, or from) the opposite direction.
to face about; to turn oneself about
Mr. Carter, whose back had been turned, turned about and faced his niece.1888, Horatio Alger, The Errand Boy:
2 more examples
Dykhuizen has the story the other way about, that Dewey decided in 1939 that he wished no longer to continue as "Emeritus Professor in Residence" and so informed Columbia in the knowledge that this would involve a substantial reduction in his income.1995, Alan Ryan, John Dewey and the High Tide of American Liberalism, W. W. Norton & Company, →ISBN, page 383:
I am sorry to hear of his illness. But I know she will bring him about. And if I smile, it is not out of disregard for your worries but only because mine are somewhat eased. I am relieved to know why I have not heard from her.2017 October 16, Jeannie Troll, A Clever Girl: Part One, Page Publishing Inc, →ISBN:
Before he goeth about, he will shoot off a piece; and, being about, will put forth another light, upon the poop […]1809, The Harleian Miscellany: a collection of scarce, curious, and entertaining pamphlets and tracts ... found in the late Earl of Oxford's library. Interspersed with historical, political, and critical notes, etc. With an introduction by Samuel Johnson, page 45:
When he had finished, he drew his plaid around his head, and went slowly down to the little dell, where he used every day to offer up his morning and evening prayers, and where we have often sat together on Sabbath afternoons, reading verse about with our children in the Bible.1818, James Hogg, published in The Scots Magazine, Vol. 86, p. 218, "On the Life and Writings of James Hogg" https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=W-5HAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA128&dq=%22reading+verse+about+with+our+children%22 [Quoted in the OED]
What an Arme he has, he turn'd me about with his finger and his thumbe, as one would set up a Top.1908 [c. 1606], William Shakespeare, The Tragedie of Coriolanus, Oppidan Library, page 96:
Prithee, do not turn me about; my stomach is not constant.1897 [c. 1610], William Shakespeare, The Tempest, ed. by F.S. Boas, page 27:
2 more examples
"turn and turn about is fair play : you saw the rat that was killed in the parlor." "Turn about [is] fair play, indeed!" cried the cat. "Then all of you get to your spits; I am sure that is turn about!" "Nay, "said the turnspits, wagging their tails and laughing. "That is over and over again,which is not fair play. 'T is the coffee-mill that is turn and turn about."1902, Mary Mapes Dodge, St. Nicholas, page 1095:
I was driving by myself. The only hard part was shifting, I did grind the gears a few times until I got used to it. I practiced going about in circles and backing in and out of the barn.2012 02, Edmund C. Schimek, A Small Time in Space, AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page 12:
The island was a mile about, and a third of a mile across.
Indeede I am in the waste two yards about.c. 1597-1602, William Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor
2 more examples
... a more easie way, though it were farther about.1904 [1600?], Richard Hakluyt, The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques & Discoveries of the English Nation Made by Sea Or Over-land to the Remote and Farthest Distant Quarters of the Earth at Any Time Within the Compasse of These 1600 Yeeres, page 104:
... the sure way, though most about, to make gold, is to know the causes of the several natures before rehearsed, […]1842 [1650?], Francis Bacon, Sylva sylvarum, or A natural history; Papers relating to the Earl of Essex; Papers relating to Sir Edward Coke, page 50:
God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea.1790, The Christian's Complete Family Bible: Containin the Whole of the Sacred Text of the Old and New Testaments, with the Apocrypha at Large:
Etymology Preposition and adverb from Middle English aboute, abouten, from Old English abūtan, onbūtan, from on (“in, on”) + būtan (“outside of”), itself from be (“by”) + ūtan (“outside”). Cognate with Old Frisian abûta (“outside; except”). Adjective from Middle English about (adverb).
1
Moving around or in motion; astir.
out and about; up and about
After my bout with Guillan-Barre Syndrome, it took me 6 months to be up and about again.
4 more examples
'John, I have observed that you are often out and about of nights, sometimes as late as half past seven or eight.[…]'[1898], J[ohn] Meade Falkner, Moonfleet, London; Toronto, Ont.: Jonathan Cape, published 1934, →OCLC:
About, my Braine!c. 1600, William Shakespeare, Hamlet
About, about; Search Windsor Castle, elves, within and out.c. 1597-1602, William Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor
... the building of St. James's by my Lord St. Albans, which is now about (and which the City stomach I perceive highly, but dare not oppose it,) were it now to be done, it would not be done for a million of money.1828 [1663], Samuel Pepys, Diary, page 95:
2
In existence; being in evidence; apparent.
This idea has been about for a while but has only recently become fashionable.
To my mind, transportation engineering is similar to flying in the 1930s — it has been about for some time but it has taken the present economic jolt to shake it out of its infancy, in the same way that the war started the development of flying to its current stage.1975, IPC Building & Contract Journals Ltd, Highways & road construction, volume 43:
2 more examples
Although it has been about for some time now, I like the typeface Sauna.2005, IDG Communications, Digit, numbers 89-94:
2006, Great Britain Parliament: House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, Energy: Meeting With Malcolm Wicks MP, Is not this sudden interest in capturing CO₂ — and it has been about for a little while — simply another hidey-hole for the government to creep into?
3
Near; in the vicinity or neighbourhood.
I had my keys just a minute ago, so they must be about somewhere.
Etymology Preposition and adverb from Middle English aboute, abouten, from Old English abūtan, onbūtan, from on (“in, on”) + būtan (“outside of”), itself from be (“by”) + ūtan (“outside”). Cognate with Old Frisian abûta (“outside; except”). Adjective from Middle English about (adverb).
1
Nautical, TransportUncommon To change the course of (a ship) to the other tack; to bring (a ship) about.
The Channel at Archer's Hope Point lies close by the Shoar, and makes such an Angle there by reason of Hog Island, that going up or down the River, let the Wind be where it will, they must there bring the contrary Tack on Board, and generally when they About the Ship as they call it, they are so nigh the Shoar, that a Man may almost fling a Finger-stone on Board.1694, John Martyn (Londres), James Allestry (Londres), Henry Oldenburg, Philosophical Transactions, Giving Some Accompt of the Present Undertakings, Studies and Labors of the Ingenious in Many Considerable Parts of the World, page 984:
Mr. Whalen:] they had "abouted ship." They had changed the course to put her into the wind—1937, United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Amending the Merchant Marine Act of 1936: Hearing Before the Committee on Commerce and the Committee on Education and Labor, United States Senate, Seventy-fifth Congress, Second[-third] Session, on S. 3078, a Bill to Amend the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, and for Other Purposes ..., page 456:
1 more example
... and we were abouting ship every watch or so.1950, Sea Breezes: